Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Latest round-up of BDS Fails

Last night's abject failure of the University of Washington divestment vote by a resounding 59 against, 8 in favor and 11 abstentions isn't the only reason to be cheerful.Its just one in an ever-increasing series of failures of the 13 year old BDS movement

From the Stones to Lana Del Rey – a guide to the plethora of international musical artists headed to Israel this summer

WHO: The Prodigy WHEN: May 29 WHERE: Tel Aviv Trade Grounds Center PRICE: Tickets NIS 324-454
1-10 scale : 7 1990s British electronic music pioneers still make a glorious noise, if you can stand the volume.

WHO: The Rolling Stones WHEN: June 4 WHERE: Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv PRICE: Tickets NIS 700-2,800 1-10 scale: 10 If elderly bluesmen are revered for
still playing into their senior years, why can’t a geriatric white rock
& roll band, especially one that’s still playing at peak power?
The biggest feather in Israel’s cap since Paul McCartney.

WHO: Passenger WHEN: June 10 WHERE: Barbie Club, Tel Aviv PRICE: SOLD OUT 1-10 scale: 8 The British folk-pop guitarist whose
song “Let Her Go” has become a huge worldwide hit with over 200 million
You- Tube views, is actually a star right now, not yesterday. And his
real name is Michael David Rosenberg, so you gotta root for him.

WHO: Soundgarden/Gogol Bordello – Rocknroller Festival WHEN: June 18 WHERE: Bloomfield Stadium, Jaffa PRICE: NIS 300-855 1-10 scale: 7 The second day of the Rocknroller
Festival offers another strong lineup with grunge veterans Soundgarden
on the comeback trail, paired with the gypsy-punk mayhem of Gogol
Bordello. Those that prefer a more intimate setting can catch the manic
New York party animals on June 19 at the Barbie Club (NIS 150-180).

WHO: M. Ward WHEN: June 25 WHERE: Gesher Theater, Jaffa PRICE: NIS 169 1-10 scale: 10 Besides the Stones, the other “must
see” of the summer. This understated American singer/songwriter is
original and compelling, whether or not he’s performing with his
sometime musical partner Zooey Deschanel. A staggering guitarist and
storyteller – Americana personified.

WHO: Brian Jonestown Massacre WHEN: July 15 WHERE: Barbie Club, Tel Aviv PRICE: NIS 160-190 1-10 scale: 7.5 The veteran psychedelic cult rockers
led by eccentric front man Anton Newcombe impressed on their first
visit to Israel in 2012, and this time should be no different.

WHO: Neil Young and Crazy Horse WHEN: July 17 WHERE: Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv PRICE: NIS 400 1-10 scale: 9.5 If the Stones weren’t playing a month
before, this show would be all that Israeli music fans would be talking
about. Two legends – Young and Crazy Horse – for the reasonable price
of one. Warning: If you go only for his “Heart of Gold” mellowness,
beware of endless guitar solos.

WHO: Backstreet Boys WHEN: July 29-30 WHERE: Ra’anana Amphipark PRICE: SOLD OUT 1-10 scale: 6 These shows will undoubtedly be
entertaining and highly professional in the Vegas vein, but isn’t the
appeal of a boy band supposed to be that they’re boys? It might be a
car-crash moment seeing middle-aged housewives in the crowed strutting
retro MTV dance moves, but that hasn’t prevented 16,000 Israelis from
buying tickets.

WHO: Kansas WHEN: August 5 WHERE: Mann Auditorium, Tel Aviv PRICE: NIS 279-449 1-10 scale: 6 The 1970s prog-rock veterans from the US
heartland had their moments, “Carry on Wayward Son” being prime
example. But the scene of all those lit cell phones waving in unison to
“Dust in the Wind” just might be a little too precious to bear.

WHO: America WHEN: August 7 WHERE: Ra’anana Amphipark PRICE: NIS 190-280 1-10 scale: 8 Could be the crowd pleaser of the
summer.Those harmonies, those lush acoustic guitars... admit that you
nostalgically hum their songs and that “Sister Golden Hair” is pop
perfection.

WHO: Kurt Vile and the Violators WHEN: August 12 WHERE: Barbie Club, Tel Aviv PRICE: NIS 169 1-10 scale: 8 Americana indie rocker channels the
scruffy side of Springsteen, Petty and Young into a modern version of
low-fi authenticity. Heartfelt from the heartland.

WHO: Lana Del Rey WHEN: August 20 WHERE: Tel Aviv Trade Grounds Center PRICE: NIS 400-1,000 1-10 scale: 9 The only artist coming to Israel who
also performed at the Coachella Festival this year, Del Rey burst to
stardom through the Internet in 2011, but has showed staying power with
her quirky style. The next best thing to a performance by Lorde.